The appointment of the new MACC Chief Commissioner will be made on Aug 1. This important appointment can have a very strong impact on the country`s future in all fields – political, social and economic.

Corruption is the cause of many of our socio, economic and even political ills. Social cohesion and national unity, economic growth and inflation and political stability and money politics. These serious weaknesses are already severely eroding our national progress, well-being and future.

It is therefore of vital importance that the Government makes the choice well, or we will go down the well.

Ideally, the public should be consulted over the choice of the new MACC chief. The Government should be seen to be fair to us all, and to ensure the new MACC chief has wide national support for his/her appointment and the great task and challenges the new chief will face in combating corruption more effectively in Malaysia.

With a ranking of 54 out of 157 countries in the Corruption Perception Index, our performance is still dismal and discouraging. Hence, we need a new thrust to fight corruption and a new process for selecting the new Chief Commissioner.

At least the Special Committee on Anti-Corruption in Parliament should be consulted and its approval obtained for the new MACC Chief, should there be no broader public consultation and consideration undertaken at this time.

The Special Committee has three Government MPs, another three Opposition members and it is chaired by the distinguished Speaker of the Senate. Thus, its credentials are first rate and it should be fully consulted and should give its views publicly on the choice, in order for the people to be given more confidence in the choice of the new Chief Commissioner.

What are some of the criteria that the Government could use for choosing the new MACC Chief Commissioner?

1. He should be appointed from among MACC Staff and no outsider should be allowed. An insider will have the vast experience, the competence, the operational know-how at the ground and the dedication that has been built over the many years in combatting the scourge of corruption.
2. The new Chief Commissioner should be someone of impeccable honesty and integrity . There is no sense in having a CC who has had a checkered past, bad record or who is even of doubtful integrity.
3. The new CC must be strong in personality, character and commitment to the great cause of going all out against corruption, before it spreads further in our system like cancer. He/she has to be able to stand up firmly and steadfastly against any political and commercial interference from any quarter, high or low.
4. The new CC has to be an inspirational leader, in order to rally the MACC staff to a new level in the war against corruption. He has to treat it as a jihad, or struggle, against corruption that otherwise will continue to undermine our national morality, productivity and progress.
5. The CC must be someone whom the general public respects for his/her professionalism and fairness and impartiality at all times. He/She cannot be suspected of any kind of political, social, or commercial interest nor preferences.

The above criteria for the choice of the new CC can be supplemented. But what is paramount is that the choice of the new CC should be transparent, more consultative and be seen to be fair to the public, based on all the above criteria and more.

Only then will there be greater public confidence in the MACC and stronger support for its noble efforts, that is to reduce, if not stamp out, the curse of corruption from our beloved country.

All Malaysians now wait with bated breath for the appointment of the new CC, as it will show the extent of our Government`s sincerity and political will to prevent us falling deeper into the well of corruption.

Ramon Navaratnam is the Chairman of the Asli Centre for Public Policy Studies.

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